ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Soldiers and Airmen of the 103rd Civil Support Team opened their doors to chemistry students from Grace Christian School last week.
The Alaska National Guard members showed nearly 50 students how chemistry applies to the world outside the classroom. They demonstrated the negative effects caused by mixing different household ingredients that alone are relatively harmless but when combined, can cause noxious fumes, small explosions and even melt plastic.
Civil Support Teams are generally called upon in the event of a natural or man-made disaster, when there are substances that civilian authorities are unsure of or are unable to immediately identify.
"Although chemistry has all kinds of positive applications, in our line of work, we respond to some very negative ones," said Army Lt. Col. Stephen Wilson, 103rd CST commander.
"Through our capability demonstration, we were able to show how our knowledge of chemistry can be applied in a first- or emergency-response nature for a natural or man-made disaster," he said.
Wilson said that it's important the 103rd CST was able to show the youth the importance of safety and the reasons that Civil Support Teams are crucial to the safety of local citizens.
"What the 103rd CST does is really interesting and shows how chemistry can have practical application," said Brian Cresap, an advanced placement chemistry student at the school. "It really makes me think about how easy it is to make really volatile things and how awesome the 103rd CST is for being there to protect me."
Being able to interact with the local community was also an important part of the visit.
"I think it's important that the 103rd CST gets involved with the community because we are all members of the community in the first place," said 1st Lt. Allen Hulse, science officer with the 103rd CST. "It's a valuable service, especially when we are able to get the education piece out to the community. They have a better understanding of who we are, what our mission is, and how it relates to them, and that is invaluable when we are working within the community."
Students and teachers alike said they were excited for the opportunity to learn about the 103rd CST.
"I'm thrilled that the 103rd CST took the time to talk to my students," said Deb Fancher, a chemistry teacher at Grace Christian School. "There are very few labs in town where my students are going to get hands-on opportunities to see what we are doing in the classroom applying to the real world. For the 103rd CST to take the time and have the willingness to work with young people, it's fabulous. It's a great learning opportunity for them."